BYU players huddle together prior to game at Baylor September 28, 2024, in Waco, Texas. After a week off, BYU will host Arizona Saturday afternoon at LaVell Edwards Stadium. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
Bye weeks can be beautiful things. They are like pit stops for race cars. Football teams, like BYU, get a chance to step off the field, check the engine, refresh the tires and refuel. If done right, the Cougars should be ready to resume the Big 12 race and stay in the chase until the next one on Nov. 2.
In between the two byes, No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0) hosts Arizona on Saturday (2 p.m. MDT, Fox), Oklahoma State on Oct. 18 and plays at UCF on Oct. 26. Where their Cinderella story goes from here is anyone’s guess, but the Cougars are familiar with the script.
Last year, BYU also began October with an impressive record (4-1), including a 38-31 victory at Arkansas. However, the Halloween-month triggered more tricks than treats. The Cougars were bedazzled and blown out in four of the next five games by a combined 161-37. Along the way, they lost grad-transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis to injury.
BYU’s 1-6 finish eclipsed the 4-1 start and left them in the dark throughout the bowl season. Lingering residue carried over to 2024, where the Cougars were picked to finish 13th in the 16-team Big 12.
Acting defiantly as to how things were predicted to be, BYU has pushed back against the status quo in just about every way. While learning on the job, junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff has climbed to No. 18 in the country with 12 touchdown passes. The Cougars are No. 22 in red-zone offense.
Defensively, BYU ranks among the top 20 in scoring defense (No. 17), turnovers gained (No. 15) and the team is No. 16 with the fewest penalties.
In addition, the fact that the Cougars are one of 12 undefeated teams in the country and already within a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/brief-pit-stop-cougars-eye-180100793.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-10-07 18:01:00
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